The second year of the pandemic draws to a close with the fear for the new Omicron variant taking center stage. It has been a difficult year for Southeast Asia with sharp increases in infection cases and deaths in the first half of the year only starting to decline last September. Untimely decisions and delays in vaccination have compounded the spreading of the Delta variant, with the pandemic and related containment measures resulting in disproportionate socioeconomic impacts on people, particularly on marginalized groups. Social protection efforts have been insufficient to meet the growing needs, with communities and civil society groups maximizing their efforts to fill the gaps with their limited resources.
To support these essential community-based efforts, since June 2020, we have launched the grant-making program “Staying Resilient Amid the Pandemic in Southeast Asia” with support of the China Medical Board (CMB). This 3-year program provides strategic support to grassroots and civil society groups to strengthen community resilience, enhance their capacity to cope with the current situation, and address equity concerns related to the pandemic. In addition to providing funding, the program shares important COVID-19 and health equity information and knowledge, encourages cross-fertilization of ideas and interventions, assists in the development of networks, and conducts joint advocacy actions.
In the last two years, we have selected and provided grants to 36 activities in different locations of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam. The activities cover a wide range of issues and subjects related to the COVID-19 crisis, including but not limited to the environmental dimensions of the pandemic, online education and digital literacy; the role of arts and culture in COVID-19 response; addressing increased gender-based violence; and targeted responses for disadvantaged communities such as LGBTQ+, people living with HIV/AIDS, migrant workers and informal workers, and women in prisons. While some activities are still on-going, several initiatives have been completed and have yielded positive and long-term results. Some grantees also carry on with the activities they began with our support.
We have been able to fund more initiatives than planned thanks to additional support received from WIEGO, GAATW, and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) in cooperation with Join Together Society Korea (JTS Korea). Last year, also individual donors have contributed significantly, responding positively to our fundraising call at the beginning of the year.
As the need is great and response to the last calls has been enthusiastic with over 170 submitted applications, also this year we are looking for donations to increase the budget available for the next batch of applications planned for January 2022. Any additional contribution, no matter the amount, from individual donors and institutions will go a long way toward mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and strengthening the community-based response to the pandemic. The funds can also be earmarked for activities related to issues or groups of particular concerns for the donor. We can assure you that all the funds are going directly to the beneficiary organizations as management costs are covered by the program. Donations can be easily made via PayPal at http://seajunction.org/how-to-engage/donation/. If you prefer to transfer via bank, our dedicated account for our Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies is TMB #043 -7-18114-2 (please include name and purpose in bank staeement). For those in the U.S., we can provide tax-benefits through our institutional partner, so just write to us.
If you are interested to support specific community groups or need more information, please contact us at southeastasiajunction@gmail.org.
Organizer
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions- from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see http://www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on twitter and Instagram @seajunction
